Talks aimed at resolving the dispute at Brinks Allied, which threatens to cause increased disruption to cash supplies, are to resume at the Labour Relations Commission today.
Notice of a strike to begin next Thursday has been served on the company by SIPTU, in a row over health and safety procedures. The dispute has already disrupted cash deliveries to ATMs in Dublin and other areas of the east coast. However the Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) said yesterday that 93 per cent of ATMs in the affected areas were continuing to operate following an "initial reduction" in service.
"Availability of cash at ATMs has stabilised at these high levels and the banks will continue to endeavour to sustain this," it said in a statement. A spokeswoman said reports in some media that the dispute had closed as many as 200 ATMs were incorrect.
Today's talks at the Labour Relations Commission, due to begin at 11 a.m., follow two previous failed attempts to resolve the dispute through conciliation.
The decision to renew discussions followed an intervention this week by the National Implementation Body, a high level group comprising union, employer and Government representatives.
In a statement yesterday, it called on the parties to "engage positively" with the Commission to seek a formula that would address the issues and enable full normal working to resume.
Drivers at the company have been off the road for more than a fortnight because of the row, which followed an attempt by the company to introduce new security procedures. Workers said these would leave them more vulnerable to attack during armed robberies. Supervisors have continued to carry out some cash deliveries, but these would be likely to stop if the strike went ahead.
Welcoming the NIB's intervention, SIPTU's security services branch secretary, Mr Kevin McMahon, said the union had always believed that the best way to resolve the dispute was through the use of the professional services of the LRC and the Labour Court.
Brinks had indicated its willingness to return to the LRC in a statement on Wednesday, issued after workers voted by 60 to nine in favour of a strike.
In its statement yesterday the IPSO, which represents the banking sector, said there were black spots in some of the affected areas where traffic levels were high. A spokeswoman said these were likely to include major shopping areas where there was a high demand for cash. The IPSO reissued its advice to customers to use alternatives to ATMs where possible, such as credit card and Internet banking, and the cashback facility available to laser cardholders.
